Featured Skater: Melody Mayhem

We’ve all felt it: that tingly, butterflies in the stomach, giddy, hair-raising feeling that only comes from your first time watching derby. Deciding whether or not to strap on skates and give the ol’ track a whirl is an exhilarating decision, and sometimes takes way too long to make! This was the case for accomplished jammer, Melody Mayhem. “Fellow teammate Aria Kiddinme convinced me to try it out during a conversation we had at a going away party for a mutual friend. My interest for derby was already there after seeing a bout several years before this conversation, but I never acted on my interest. By the end of the night Aria convinced me to join and two weeks later I was on skates.”

And we are so glad she did! Melody is a battering-ram of a jammer, super skilled, and a great teacher! In fact, she teaches on and off the track. “I teach elementary music (grades K-5) at Delaware Community Schools. I also can be found knitting or crocheting something.” Don’t let that fool you though, collide with Melody Mayhem, and you might have some stitches of your own!

(A war cry captured by Matt Ruddick at K-Town Shakedown)

Melody is an all-star jammer and recently jammed not one, not two, but three games in one weekend at the K-town Shakedown Tournament. (Which you can read more about here!) One of her favorite memories in her derby career, she described it simply as: “3 days. 3 bouts. It was challenging, but a fantastic experience.” So how does an active jammer like Melody keep her focus? “At practice I think about what I need to work on to make myself and the team better. On bout day I think calming thoughts and try to focus on the bout to come. How can I get through the opposing team’s defense? How can I be the most effective in my attack?“

She certainly does attack, and she is fierce! Buuuuuuuut she’s a softie, too. “I love that derby gives me a competitive outlet in my life. I also love that derby has given me a second family. (*Insert cheesy-heartfelt music and audience “aw” here.)”

To see Melody in action, head down to Gibson’s Skating Arena (2610 S Mock Ave, Muncie) on June 12 at 1pm! This is a derby packed double-header Sunday, so get more bang for your buck and see Cornfed take on two awesome teams! The Cornfed all-stars will face the Gem City Rollergirls, and the Cornfed Muncie Missfits will play A-Town Roller Derby. Tickets at door are only ten bucks, five for college students with an ID!

Thank YOU!

Connect

About

The Cornfed Derby Dames (CFDD) are Muncie’s premiere flat track roller derby league! Founded in 2010, the CFDD hope to bring together and empower people of all body types, race, age, and religion. It is our goal to make roller derby a positive and lasting addition to the Muncie community.